In July, Food Finders Food Bank experienced a 70% increase in visits to their Fresh Market Community Food Pantry over the same time last year
In the first half of the year, Lafayette Urban Ministry saw a 36% jump in visits to their food pantry over 2021. The number of new food pantry clients went up 123%, and they saw a 33% increase in visits to their emergency shelter.
Food insecure adults are more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension, and high blood pressure. They are also more likely to report mental health problems, including anxiety and depression, and poor general health. Seniors who are food insecure have a decreased capacity to maintain independence with aging.
Children who face hunger are more likely to struggle in school and experience developmental setbacks. Kids who struggle to get enough to eat also face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma.
In addition to decreased intellectual and emotional development and poor academic performance, children living in food insecure households are at higher risk of poor physical and mental health. They are substantially more likely to be diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, asthma, mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, cognitive impairment, and behavioral disorders. They are also at higher risk of being hospitalized. These health problems and the resulting time demands placed on caregivers impact the ability of caregivers to maintain stable employment.
Seniors struggling with hunger often have to make the difficult decision between paying for rent, medication, or transportation and food.
For seniors, lack of access to healthy foods, or even a stable diet, can lead to life threatening medical conditions, such as disability, deteriorating health/ mental health conditions, serious infections, lengthy hospitalization, and malnutrition. The number one health condition caused by food insecurity among seniors is clinical (severe/major) depression. For more information on senior hunger, read The State of Senior Hunger
At a celebration this week, it was announced that the 28th annual Hunger Hike raised $96,899. Each of sponsoring organizations received $30,230. Collectively, THIS decade, Hunger Hike raised $978,597 (10 year total) – an amazing accomplishment in the fight against hunger. The celebration was capped off with the presentation of checks to representatives of the three sponsoring organizations: Duane Sellers & Chuck Anderson representing St. Thomas Aquinas Haiti Ministry; Katy Bunder, Food Finders Food Bank, Inc.; and Joe Micon, Lafayette Urban Ministry. All major donors and event sponsors were also recognized.
A majority of the money comes from local churches ($49,033). The top 5 CHURCH fundraisers:
St. Thomas Aquinas ($30,031)
Chapel of the Good Shepherd
St. John’s Episcopal
Bethany Presbyterian
Central Presbyterian
The top six INDIVIDUAL fundraisers:
Rob Pahl ($10,930) – First individual to raise over $10,000
Fr. Patrick Baikauskas, OP
Jane & Duane Sellers
Dr. Michael Lockwood
Patti O’Callaghan
The top organization/group TEAMS:
Decatur Street Kids ($2,079)
Dogs Against Hunger
Purdue English Department – Poets & Critics
Grandma’s Bunch
Benton Central High School CAAP, Food Finders Food Bank & Tippecanoe Democrats (3-way tie)
Special thanks to DIAMOND Level event sponsor — The Lafayette Life Foundation ($5,000 donation); and the Gold Level event sponsors — Walmart/Sam’s Club of Lafayette/West Lafayette ($2,500 donation).
Total Hunger Hike corporate gifts totaled $25,136. To view all of our event sponsors, click HERE.
The proceeds from Hunger Hike 2019 will have a tremendous & immediate positive impact on the Fight Against Hunger — locally, regionally & globally. Thank you all again for supporting Hunger Hike. More information may be found on the Hunger Hike website at hungerhike.org. If you wish to become a Hunger Hike2020 event sponsor, please email hungerhike@lumserve.org).
Please mark your calendars for next year’s Hunger Hike — Sunday, September 20, 2020 —
Special THANKS to every donor, fundraiser, church, team, and event sponsor for your support. Let’s work together to reach $100,000 this year. And thanks.
Support Hunger Hike while you enjoy your meal at Texas Roadhouse . Present the coupon to your server when you order and Texas Roadhouse will donate 20% of your purchase to Hunger Hike.
Hunger Hike gets 20% of your food sales — so, eat up!
Please share this with others. THANK YOU.
The Texas Roadhouse Story
It all began on February 17, 1993, when Kent Taylor opened the first Texas Roadhouse in Clarksville, Indiana. Kent’s goal was to own not just a family restaurant and not just a steak restaurant, but a place where everyone, of all ages, could come and have a great meal and great fun for a great price.
We like to brag about our Hand-Cut Steaks, Fall-Off-The-Bone Ribs, Made-From-Scratch Sides, and Fresh-Baked Bread. Everything we do goes into making our hearty meals stand out. We handcraft almost everything we serve. We provide larger portions so you get more food for your dollar. And if you want an Ice Cold Beer or Legendary Margarita to wash it all down — well, we have those, too.
Our food’s not the only thing that’s Legendary at the Roadhouse — our fun is too! From our line dancers to our jukebox to our friendly servers, you’ll enjoy every second you spend in a Texas Roadhouse.
At Texas Roadhouse our team has an incredible sense of pride in everything we do. Our passion ensures you have a Legendary Experience every time. Because of our passion for our guests and our communities, our team members are involved outside the restaurants in their local communities as a way to give back.
The Texas Roadhouse story is simple. Legendary Food, Legendary Service® — all with lots of Legendary Fun!
Everyone who raises more than $50 will be presented with a 2019 Hunger Hike T-shirt at check-in on Sunday, September 22 at Riehle Plaza. You can then wear it in pride knowing that YOU have made a difference in the Fight Against Hunger.
It is not too late to start raising money for Hunger Hike — and secure your official 2019 T-shirt. Just go to the Hunger Hike website and get started today — hungerhike.org.
The Hunger Hike 2019 honorary co-chairs are Purdue Coaches Sharon Versyp (women’s basketball) & Dave Kucik (men’s & women’s crew & rowing).
Coaches Versyp & Kucik are perfect ambassadors for Hunger Hike. Both set the bar high for their own work and their teams. They have a serious commitment to serving their community — especially in supporting food assistance and nutrition programs. You’ll get to meet them and the student-athletes on their teams as well as see a Purdue Crew team “shell.”
Join us THIS Sunday to meet and hear remarks from Coaches Sharon Versyp & Dave Kucik at the Hunger Hike kick-off event at 1:45 p.m. (Riehle Plaza).
